Information on Use

Access

Citation

When quoting material from
this collection, the preferred citation is: Squibb, Francis P. Papers, [Box#, Folder#], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Francis P. Squibb was born July 20, 1927 in Brookline, MA. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Dartmouth College and a M.A. in Social Philosophy from the University of Illinois. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, Squibb became a jazz musician in the Chicago area.

From 1952-1954, Squibb edited and prepared jazz records for William Russell in Chicago. He then worked for the American Peoples Encyclopedia from 1954-1964. During his tenure as the chief editor at the University of Alabama Press from 1965-1980, he published Storyville, New Orleans by Al Rose. His continued interest in jazz led him to serve as a curator at the William Ransom Hogan Archives of New Orleans Jazz at Tulane University from 1965-1980.

Scope Note

The Francis P. Squibb Papers are divided into four series: Series I, Personal; Series II, Catalogs, Discographies, and Publications; Series III, Printed and Handwritten Music; Series IV, Oversize. The Francis P. Squibb Papers contain advertisements, articles, correspondence, interviews, photographs, songbooks, fake books, method books, programs, publications, liner notes, record catalogs and discographies, essays, and manuscripts. There is handwritten, printed, and photocopied music as well as music transcriptions.

Series I, Personal, contains advertisements, correspondence, interviews, ephemera about musicians, photographs, programs, and drafts of manuscripts written by others. There are advertisements for the jazz club Red Arrow, “Louisiana” brand canned shrimp and okra, and LP record labels. The manuscript “Black Jazz on the Barbary Coast” also contains photographs of musicians. The manuscript, “Louisiana’s Singing Century” is divided into two copies: a complete photocopy in draft form and a complete photocopy with handwritten notes. There is correspondence to Squibb from Eugene Kramer and Mike Hazelnine. The correspondence not addressed to Squibb consists mostly of photocopied letters to and from musicians. The photocopied interviews are with Mrs. Francis Oliver, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, Roy Carew, and William Russell. Also included is a music lesson journal.

Series II, Catalogs, Discographies, and Publications, contains record catalogs, discographies, and jazz publications. Publications include Down Beat, Jazz Journal, Jazz World, Record Research, Giants of Jazz, Index of Jazz, and Climax. See Series IV for additional publications.

Series III, Printed and Handwritten Music, contains printed, published, and handwritten music. As received from Squibb, folders are grouped by musician, composer, or style and are arranged alphabetically by subject and alphabetically by title within each subject. Songbooks are listed last. Sheet music is documented by title, lyricist, composer, publisher, and date. Method books and fake books are transcribed and edited mostly for piano. The handwritten music includes composers such as Eubie Blake, Buck Clayton and Don Ewell. Music transcriptions are of Don Ewell and Don Lambert and consist of piano arrangements. Photocopied music includes music by Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Jess Stacy.

Series IV, Oversize, contains liner notes written by Squibb as well as articles features in Down Beat written by Sharon Pease. There are publications including Metronome and Esquire’s Jazz Book. Residential and business maps outlining areas of Chicago are included.

Related Resources

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections: